Automatic bilge pump



March 29, 1966 P. s T 3,242,873

AUTOMATIC BILGE PUMP Filed May 13, 1963 2 Sheets-Sneet 1 INVENTOR. PHI/L H. SM/TH 14 T TOR/V5 Y March 29, 1966 P. H. SMITH AUTOMATIC BILGE PUMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 15, 1963 FIG. 5

INVENTOR P/QUL H. 6M/ 7 H 7 %/Q,

14 TTOR/VE Y United States Patent 3,242,873 AUTOMATIC BILGE PUMP Paul H. Smith, 106 Atlantic Ave., Lynbrook, N.Y. Filed May 13, 1963, Ser. No. 27 9,766 7 Claims. (Cl. 103-248) The present invention relates to an automatic bilge pump and it particularly relates to an automatic bilge pump for use in small craft.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an automatic bilge pump which will be compact and relatively simple in construction and reliable in operation, and which may be readily installed in small craft to give assurance of prompt and automatic removal of any collection of bilge in the lower part of the craft.

Another object is to provide an automatic bilge pump particularly designed for small craft which will be made of few parts and which will not require electrical powering or connections to a motor or power source and which will operate independently.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given by way of illustration and explanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In accomplishing the above objects, it has been found most satisfactory according to one embodiment of the present invention to provide a housing member which may be of lightweight material such as aluminum or plastic having a removal cover from which may be suspended the operating mechanism and connections.

In the preferred form of the invention, there is provided a float member substantially having a width and lateral dimension slightly less than the interior dimensions of the receptacle or housing which may be made of a lightweight porous material, preferably a porous non-permeable expanded plastic substance such as styrene foam.

It, is, of course, understood that the float may also consist of a lightweight material such as wood or a solid ma terial which will float upon water or even an empty tank but the latter is not preferred because of the likelihood of leakage.

This float desirably has an upwardly extending connection rod or actuating member attached to a cross bar pivotaliy mounted at one side of the tank and having connections to a compressed air inlet and outlet and to an actuating toggle connection associated with the float.

Desirably the cross bar is pivotally suspended from the depending member from the cover and along the length of the cross bar as it extends across the interior of the top of the receptacle.

There may be suitable connections on or extending through the cross bar to valving members in the cover.

Desirably associated with the bilge pump and serving as a source of power therefor is a compressed air or gas cylinder which has a suitable connection to the valve arrangement in the cover actuated by the cross bar.

This compressed air when emitted to the interior of the housing in one position of the cross bar and desirably in an upper position of the cross bar will emit air or gas under substantial pressure to the interior of the housing to exhort a pressure upon any bilge water therein.

Desirably the bilge water flows into the housing which is positioned in the lowest part of the boat past suitable valved controlled openings in the base of the housing.

This flow of water into the housing will occur automatically whenever bilge water collects and the valve is desirably a thin flap valve of rubber or plastic material mounted interiorly of the housing and adjacent the openings in the bottom of the housing. 1

Patented Mar. 29, 1966 The valve will normally be displaced downwardly by the water or pressure inside of the housing but will be displaced upwardly permitting entrance of additional bilge water whenever the head of water in the lower part of the boat exceeds the head of water in the housing.

At the same time at the side of the housing, there is provided an outlet opening and connection to permit the water to be discharged exteriorly of the boat when the compressed air is emitted to the interior of the housing.

The discharge opening is provided with an outside discharge receptacle having a flap valve positioned on the Wall of the housing which is enclosed within the receptacle so that this flap valve will open to permit discharge of bilge water from the housing but closed to prevent reverse flow.

This flap valve may also be made of rubber or thin plastic, and it is readily actuated by the tendency of any water to flow back into the housing from the receptacle or the outlet discharge connections.

The float when in its lowermost position through its connection rod and toggle connection will permit the cross bar to bias itself to close the compressed inlet in the cover and open the gas escape connection in the cover.

This bilge Water may continue to flow into the housing lifting the float until the housing receives a quantity of water to be discharged.

When this quantity of water has been received, the float will have reached a sufiicient height to actuate the toggle which will snap to its automatic position and lift the cross bar so as to close the air or gas escape port in the cover of the housing and open the compressed air or gas inlet.

The compressed air or gas inlet will permit entry of air or gas until the compressed air drives out the bilge water through the discharge opening and in its lowermost position the toggle will snap back lowering the bar and closing the compressed air or gas inlet and again opening the air or gas outlet port so that the housing again may receive or be filled with bilge water through the lower flap valve opening.

With the foregoing and other objects, in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying draw-ings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like referene characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view upon a small scale showing a pump arrangement of the present invention located in a small craft in the lower rear portion thereof.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of a bilge pump according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the bilge pump of FIG. 2 upon the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view similar to FIG. 2, showing an alternative position of the float with the apparatus in discharge position.

FIG. 5 is a transverse horizontal sectional view taken upon the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown the small craft A having the seats B with a sump C at the rear portion thereof constituting the lowest part of the interior.

In the lowest part of the sump C will be positioned the automatic bilge pump D of the present invention together with a compressed air or gas cylinder E which may be replaced.

As shown, the tank E is held in position by a readily detachable strap 20 and the automatic bilge pump D may Q be suitably supported so that its bottom will be elevated above the bottom of the sump C and permit water to flow thereunder and thereinto.

The outlet connection 21 may be through the side of the boat or over the side of the boat.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the housing F has a lower wall suitably positioned as best indicated in FIG. 2 above the sump C so as to leave a space 23 below the bottom wall 22 through which the bilge water may flow.

The housing has the end walls 24 and 25, and the side walls 26 and 27 which terminate in the outwardly extending top flanges 28, 29, 30 and 31.

The top flanges 28, 29, 30 and 31 which may be integrally joined to the upper ends of the walls 24 to 27 carry the cover G which may be held in position by means of the screws or bolts 32.

The base or bottom wall 22 of the housing F has a series of through openings 33 which permit bilge water to flow from the space 23 into the interior of the housing.

These openings are controlled by means of the flap valves 34 which are held in position at one edge by the screws 35, said flap valve 34 may consist of a strip or sheet of rubber or some other flexible material which will resist the action of salt or fresh water and will retain its flexibility Without deterioration over a long period of time.

In the form shown, it is of rectangular shape as indicated in FIG. 5, and it will move upwardly as indicated by the arrow 36 to permit bilge water to flow interiorly in position of the device as shown in FIG. 4.

The side wall 25 is provided with a discharge port 36 which extends into the receptacle 37 mounted on the outside of the wall 25.

The receptacle 37 serves as an outlet discharge chamber and has an outwardly extending nipple 38 which connects to the lower end 39 of the tubular flexible discharge conduit 21.

On the portion 40 of the wall enclosed by the receptacle 37 is the snap valve 41 which is held in position by means of the bolt 42 and which will control the opening 36 and the wall 35 so as to prevent reverse flow into the receptacle F.

Normally the snap valve 34 will open to permit flow of bilge water into the housing F while the snap valve 41 will open to permit discharge of bilge water into the discharge conduit 21 and over or through the side of the boat A.

The snap valve 41 will, however, prevent any flow into the housing F, and these two snap valves 34- and 41 will assure that the flow will be into the housing from the space 23. and then from the housing to the outlet discharge conduit 21..

The float H within the housing may extend substantially the full width and length of the housing with a slight clearance around the periphery thereof so that its edges will not contact the interior of the walls 24 to 27.

The float H may be of a porous plastic or other lightweight material which will float upon the bilge water and which will accumulate in the lower part of the housing as indicated at J in FIG. 4.

The float H has an upwardly extending connecting rod or bar 55 which has a top clevis or slotted member 56 which has a pivot connection at 57- to the central portion 53 of the oscillating cross bar K.

The oscillating cross bar K extends transversely across the upper part of the housing F and is pivotally connected at 59 within the slot 60 of the depending hanger member 61 attached to and extending downwardly from the inte rior of the cover G (see FIGS. 2 and 4).

To give better balance, the pivoted end 62 of the cross bar is bent upwardly as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The pivotal connection 57 between the connecting rod or bar 55 and the cross bar K will also carry the clevis 63 of one of the elements 64.

The toggle element 64 is also connected at its end 65 to' the pivotal element66which extends through the clevis 67 of the end toggle snap element 68.

The toggle elements 64 and 68 will be drawn together on either side of the pivot 66 by the coil spring 69 which extends between the pin connection 7 0 and 71 to the toggle elements 64 and 68.

There is a dead center position indicated by the dot and dash line 72 in FIG. 2 and when the toggle element 64 is elevated to this position, the spring element 69 will then snap the toggle elements 64 and 68 into an upwardly extending angle as indicated at FIG. 4 from the downwardly extending angle indicated in FIG. 2.

As a result, the upper corner-73 of the toggle element 68 will strike the end 74 of the bar K elevating it from the lower position of FIG. 2 to the upper position of FIG. 4.

The bar K will normally oscillate in a guide slot 75 in the lower end of the depending member 76 attached at its upper end to the inside face of the cover G, and the cross pin 77 will act as a stop to limit the lowermost position of the cross bar K, this lowermost position being shown in FIG. 2.

The element 78 attached to and depending from the depending element 76 has an inwardly directed lower arm 79.

This arm 79 will act as a stop for the toggle element 68 in its lowermost position (see FIG. 2).

The cover G carries both the compressed air or gas inlet M as well as the outlet discharge ports N.

The outlet discharge ports N permit the air to escape from the housing F as the bilge water flows through the ports 23 pas the flap valve 34.:

The port N is controlled by the mushroom valve which has an upwardly extending guide pin 86 extending through the opening 87 in the cover.

The mushroom valve 85 also has a downwardly extending rod extension 88 which connects at 89 by means of a pin or other swivel connection to the middle portion 58 of the cross bar K.

In the lowermost position as shown in FIG. 2, the top valve face .90 of the mushroom valve 85 will be removed from the underface of the ports N.

However, in the position in FIG. 4, the face 98 will be pressed against the ports N and will prevent escape of air as when the compressed air enters into the housing F.

The compressed air connection M has a threaded end portion 91 which is threaded through the cover G and has a lower valve seat 92..

The valve seat 92 cooperates with the stem valve 93 which extends upwardly from the threaded member 94 extending through the opening 95.

The threaded member 94 may be fixed in a predetermined adjusted position by the adjustment sleeve 96.

head 97.

This will permit an adjustment or separation between the elements 96 and 97 to change the position of the valve 93 in respect to the valve seat 92.

At the proper adjustment, the valve 93 will be closed against the seat 92 when the mushroom outlet valve 85 has been moved off its seat into the position shown in FIG. 2.

Reversely when the valve 93 is lifted from the seat 92, the mushroom valve 85 will move up to close the ports N.

As the compressed air flows into the housing F with the float in the upper position shown in FIG. 4, the pressure will force the flap valve 34 closed and the bilge water will pass into the receptacle 37 and out through the conduit 21 until the toggle elements 64 and 68 will move to their lower dead center position as indicated by the dot and dash line 98 whereupon the toggle arrangement will snap into the position of FIG. 2.

In operation starting with the position in FIG. 2, the a The threaded member 94 terminates in the lower bilge water will collect in the space 23 above the bottom of the sump C in FIG. 2 and when a sufficient head exists, the bilge water will pass into the openings 33 lifting the flap valve 34 and elevating the float H.

The float H will then move upwardly as the bilge water J accumulates in the housing F until the toggle elements 68 reach the dead center position 72.

During this period the valve 93 will be closed, and the valve 85 will be open permitting any air above the float H to escape.

As soon as the dead center position is reached, the toggle elements 64 and 68 under the action of the spring 66 will snap into the alternative position elevating the arm K, and thereby closing the valve 85 and opening the valve 93.

This will prevent further escape of air through the ports N and will emit compressed air or gas past the valve 93 which is now opening.

The compressed gas or air will then force the bilge water J past the flap valve 41 into the receptacle 37 and out through the conduit 21.

As the bilge water J is being discharged into the receptacle 37 and out through the conduit 21, the float H will be lowered and when the dead center position 98 is reached by the toggle elements 64 and 68, the float H will be lowered against the flap valve 34.

This will close the compressed air valve 93 and open the mushroom valve 85 from the ports N permitting the compartment F to again receive bilge Water from the bottom of the boat.

This will permit repeating of the cycle which starts in FIG. 2.

It is thus apparent that the applicant has provided a simple compact bilge water pump automatic in operation and conveniently located in the lowermost part of the bottom of a boat without connection to any motors or driving mechanisms and depending for its power upon a replaceable compressed air or gas source of cylinders.

The device is reliable in operation and does not require any shaft drives from an electrical or gas motor and is not readily subject to derangement and does not require servicing To check the device, all that is needed is to remove the screws or bolts 32 and lift the cover and the entire valving mechanism and toggle arrangement may be received from the receptacle F and inspected for proper functioning.

This will also permit inspection of the interior valve arrangement particularly the flap valves 34 and 41.

The unit may be readily mounted upon the side of the boat or upon knobs or other elevations on the bottom of the boat.

As many changes could be made in the above automatic bilge pump, and many widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, What is claimed is:

1. An automatic bilge water pump for a small pleasure boat having an interior and a side, said pump comprising a housing receiving bilge water from a low position in the boat interior and discharging it over the side of the boat, said housing having bottom and side walls, the bottom wall having an inlet opening and one of the side walls having an outlet opening respectively to receive and discharge the bilge water, a float within the housing, a compressed gas source, a compressed gas inlet to the upper part of the housing from the compressed gas source, a gas outlet from the upper part of the housing, an inlet valve controlling the gas inlet, an outlet valve controlling the gas outlet and a snap over toggle mechanism to alternately open and close the valves, first opening the inlet gas valve and closing the outlet gas valve and then closing the inlet gas valve and opening the outlet gas valve, said mechanism being actuated by movement of said float, said compressed gas serving to discharge bilge water through the outlet opening and said gas outlet permitting escape of gas when the bilge water flows into the housing through the inlet opening, said float having lateral and longitudinal dimensions so as to closely fit the interior side walls of the housing and said housing having a separable top cover carrying said gas inlet and outlet and the valves controlling the same being carried by said cover and said valves and being positioned below said cover and said mechanism being suspended from said cover and being positioned above said float.

2. An automatic bilge water pump for a small pleasure boat having an inerior and a side, said pump comprising a housing receiving bilge water from a low position in the boat interior and discharging it over the side of the boat, said housing having bottom and side walls, the bottom wall having an inlet opening and one of the side walls having an outlet opening respectively to receive and discharge the bilge water, a float within the housing, a compressed gas source, a compressed gas inlet to the upper part of the housing from the compressed gas source, a gas outlet from the upper part of the housing, an inlet valve controlling the gas inlet, an outlet valve controlling the gas outlet and a snap over toggle mechanism to alternately open and close the valves, first opening the inlet gas valve and closing the outlet gas valve and then closing the inlet gas valve and opening the outlet gas valve, said mechanism being actuated by movement of said float, said compressed gas serving to discharge bilge water through the outlet opening and said gas outlet pe mitting escape of gas when the bilge water flows into the housing through the inlet opening, said mechanism including a toggle arrangement actuated to one position when the float moves to an elevated location within the housing to open the compressed gas inlet and close the gas outlet and reversely closing the compressed gas inlet and the gas outlet when the float moves to a lower position, said float having lateral and longitudinal dimensions so as to closely fit the interior side walls of the housing and said housing having a separable top cover carrying said gas inlet and outlet and the valves controlling the same being carried by said cover and said valves and being positioned below said cover and said mechanism being suspended from said cover and being positioned above said float.

3. An automatic bilge Water pump for a small pleasure boat having an interior and a side, said pump comprising a housing receiving bilge water from a low position in the boat interior and discharging it over the side of the boat, said housing having bottom and sidewalls, the bottom wall having an inlet opening and one of the side walls having an outlet opening respectively to receive and discharge the bilge Water, a float within the housing, a compressed gas source, a compressed gas inlet to the upper part of the housing from the compressed gas source, a gas outlet from the upper part of the housing, an inlet valve controlling the gas inlet, an outlet valve controlling the gas outlet and a snap over toggle mechanism to alternately open and close the valves, first opening the inlet gas valve and closing the outlet gas valve and then closing the inlet gas valve and opening the outlet gas valve, said mechanism being actuated by movement of said float, said compressed gas serving to discharge bilge water through the outlet opening and said gas outlet permitting escape of gas when the bilge Water flows into the housing through the inlet opening, said housing having a removable cover from which the float and mechanism are suspended and also carrying the compressed gas inlet as well as the gas outlet, said float having lateral and longitudinal dimensions so as to closely fit the interior side walls of the housing and said housing having a separable top cover carrying said gas inlet and outlet and the valves controlling the same being carried by said cover and said valves and being positioned below said cover and said mechanism being suspended from said cover and being positioned above said float.

4. An automatic bilge water pump for a small pleasure boat having an interior and a side, said pump comprising a housing receiving bilge water from a low position in the boat interior and discharging it over the side of the boat, said housing having bottom and side Walls, the bottom wall having an inlet opening and one of the side walls having an outlet opening respectively to receive and discharge the bilge Water, a float Within the housing, a compressed gas source, a compressed gas inlet to the upper part of the housing from the compressed gas source, a gas outlet from the upper part of the housing, an inlet valve controlling the gas inlet, an outlet valve controlling the gas outlet and a snap over toggle mechanism to alternately open and close the valves, first opening the inlet gas valve and closing the outlet gas valve and then closing the inlet gas valve and opening the outlet gas valve, said mechanism being actuated by movement of said float, said compressed gas serving to discharge bilge Water through the outlet opening and said gas outlet permitting escape of gas when the bilge Water flows into the housing through the inlet opening, said mechanism including a pivotal bar extending across the upper part of the interior of the housing and moved to an upper position by the float to close the outlet valve and open the inlet valve, and move to a lower position by the float to close the inlet valve and open the outlet valve, said float having lateral and longitudinal dimensions so as to closely fit the interior side walls of the housing and said housing having a separable top cover carrying said gas inlet and outlet and the valves controlling the same being carried by said cover and said valves and being positioned below said cover and said mechanism being suspended from said cover and being positioned above said float.

5. An automatic bilge water pump for a small pleasure boat having an interior and a side, said pump comprising a housing receiving bilge water from a low position in the boat interior and discharging it over the side of the boat, said housing having bottom and side Walls, the bottom wall having an inlet opening and one of the side walls having an oulet opening respectively to receive and discharge the bilge water, a float within the housing, a compressed gas source, a compressed gas inlet to the upper part of the housing from the compressed gas source, a gas outlet from the upper part of the housing, an inlet valve controlling the gas inlet, an outlet valve controlling the gas outlet and a snap over toggle mechanism to alternately open and close the valves, first opening the inlet gas valve and closing the outlet gas valve and then closing the inlet gas valve and opening the outlet gas valve, said mechanism being actuated by movement of said float, said compressed gas serving to discharge bilge water through the outlet opening and said gas outlet permitting escape of gas when the bilge Water flows into the housing through the inlet opening, said mechanism including a toggle arrangement and a bar actuated by said toggle arrangement, said bar having connections alternately to open and close said valves, said float having lateral and longitudinal dimensions so as to closely fit the interior side walls of the housing and said housing having a separable top cover carrying said gas inlet and outlet and the valves controlling the same being carried by said cover and said valves and being positioned below said cover and said mechanism being suspended from said cover and being positioned above said float.

6. An automatic bilge pump for use in small boats and pleasure craft having an interior and sides, said pump including a rectangular receptacle housing with interior sides, top and bottom and with bottom, end, side and top Walls, the top wall consisting of a removable cover, inlet and outlet gas openings and inlet and outlet gas valves mounted on said cover and a toggle snap mechanism suspended below said cover and from said cover, a rectangular fiat float member having a width and length dimension slightly less than the interior dimensions of the housing of a light weight floating material, an upwardly extending vertical connecting .bar mounted at its lower end in the center of the float and connected at its upper end to the toggle snap mechanism, a water inlet in the bottom Wall, a water inlet valve cooperating with said water inlet and a water outlet opening in the bottom of the side wall, a Water outlet valve, said mechanism alternately to open and close said gas inlet and outlet valves being operated by said float to close the gas outlet and open the gas inlet valve to force water out of the Water outlet valve and to open the gas outlet and close the gas inlet to' permit Water to flow in through the water inlet valve, said water valves being flap valves and said gas valves being vertically reciprocating valves.

7. The pump of claim 6, said valves having vertical actuators extending downwardly from the cover to the mechanism and said mechanism having a bar pivotally mounted on the cover at one side of the gas valves and actuated by said toggle snap over mechanism at the other sides of the gas valves.

References Cited by the Examiner .UNITED STATES PATENTS 191,049 5/ 1877 Hanson 103-248 750,326 1/1904 Montenegro v. Van-Halen 103-248 986,394 3/1911 Joy 103-248 1,157,491 10/1915 Anderson 103-248 1,439,591 12/1922 Welden -2 103-248 1,473,384 11/ 1923 Rogers 103-248 1,530,197 3/1925 OBrien 103-248 1,893,066 1/ 1933 Zellhoefer 103-248 2,206,447 7/1940 Berry 103-248 2,241,765 5/ 1941 Chambers 103-248 FOREIGN PATENTS 696,016 9/ 1940 Germany.

854 10/1885 Sweden.

LAURENCE V. EFNER, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN AUTOMATIC BILGE WATER PUMP FOR A SMALL PLEASURE BOAT HAVING AN INTERIOR AND A SIDE, SAID PUMP COMPRISING A HOUSING RECEIVING BILGE WATER FROM A LOW POSITION IN THE BOAT INTERIOR AND DISCHARGING IT OVER THE SIDE OF THE BOAT, SAID HOUSING HAVING BOTTOM AND SIDE WALLS, THE BOTTOM WALL HAVING AN INLET OPENING AND ONE OF THE SIDE WALLS HAVING AN OUTLET OPENING RESPECTIVELY TO RECEIVE AND DISCHARGE THE BILGE WATER, A FLOAT WITHIN THE HOUSING, A COMPRESSED GAS SOURCE, A COMPRESSED GAS INLET TO THE UPPER PART OF THE HOUSING FROM THE COMPRESSED GAS SOURCE, A GAS OUTLET FROM THE UPPER PART OF THE HOUSING, AN INLET VALVE CONTROLLING THE GAS INLET, AN OUTLET VALVE CONTROLLING THE GAS OUTLET AND A SNAP OVER TOGGLE MECHANISM TO ALTERNATELY OPEN AND CLOSE THE VALVES, FIRST OPENING THE INLET GAS VALVE AND CLOSING THE OUTLET GAS VALVE AND THEN CLOSING THE INLET GAS VALVE AND OPENING THE OUTLET GAS VALVE, SAID MECHANISM BEING ACTUATED BY MOVEMENT OF SAID FLOAT, SAID COMPRESSED GAS SERVING TO DISCHARGE BILGE WATER THROUGH THE OUTLET OPENING AND SAID GAS OUTLET PERMITTING ESCAPE OF GAS WHEN THE BILGE WATER FLOWS INTO THE HOUSING THROUGH THE INLET OPENING, SAID FLOAT HAVING LATERAL AND LONGITUDINAL DIMENSIONS SO AS TO CLOSELY FIT THE INTERIOR SIDE WALLS OF THE HOUSING AND SAID HOUSING HAVING A SEPARABLE TOP COVER CARRYING SAID GAS INLET AND OUTLET AND THE VALVES CONTROLLING THE SAME BEING CARRIED BY SAID COVER AND SAID VALVES AND BEING POSITIONED BELOW SAID COVER AND SAID MECHANISM BEING SUSPENDED FROM SAID COVER AND BEING POSITIONED ABOVE SAID FLOAT. 